Establishment of Import Limits for Certain Wool Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854).

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated August 1, 1996, effected by exchange of notes dated August 6, 1996, the Governments of the United States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia agree to establish limits for wool textile products in Categories 433, 434, 435, 443 and 448, produced or manufactured in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and exported during the period October 1, 1996 through December 31, 2000. The terms of the agreement shall be October 1, 1996 through December 31, 1997; January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998; January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999; January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to cancel the current limit for Category 434 and establish limits for Categories 433, 434, 435, 443 and 448 for the first agreement period. These limits may be subject to revision pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing on the date that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal Register notice 60 FR 65299, published on December 19, 1995). Also see 61 FR 26165, published on May 24, 1996. The letter to the Commissioner of Customs and the actions taken pursuant to it are not designed to implement all of the provisions of the MOU, but are designed to assist only in the implementation of certain of its provisions. Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements September 11, 1996.

Commissioner of Customs, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive cancels the directive issued to you on May 21, 1996, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That directive concerns imports of wool textile prouducts in Category 434, produced or manufactured in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and exported during the twelve-month period which began on May 26, 1996 and extends through May 25, 1997. Under the terms of section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); the Memorandum of Understanding dated August 1, 1996, effected by exchange of notes dated August 6, 1996, between the Governments of the United States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended, you are directed to prohibit, effective on October 1, 1996, entry into the United States for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of wool textile products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and exported during the period beginning on October 1, 1996 and extending through December 31, 1997, in excess of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Category Fifteen-month limit ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 433....................................... 25,000 dozen. 434....................................... 12,500 dozen. 435....................................... 33,469 dozen. 443....................................... 206,250 numbers. 448....................................... 75,000 dozen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Textile products in the aforementioned categories which have been exported to the United States prior to October 1, 1996 shall not be subject to this directive. Textile products in the aforementioned categories which have been released from the custody of the U.S. Customs Service under the provisions of 19 U.S.C. 1448(b) or 1484(a)(1) prior to the effective date of this directive shall not be denied entry under this directive. Should the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia become a member of the World Trade Organization, the limits set forth above may be subject to revision pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C.553(a)(1). Sincerely, Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [Doc.96-23688 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F